Streamer manufacturing

ABSTRACT

A method of manufacturing a streamer section. The method includes coupling together a plurality of prefabricated harness modules. A harness module includes a plurality of geophysical sensors disposed along a length of the harness module and a sensor node communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors. A first connector is disposed at a first end of the harness module and a second connector disposed at a second end of the harness module. The first connector is coupled to the sensor node and is configured to couple to a second harness module and receive data from a sensor node in the second harness module. The second connector is coupled to the sensor node and is configured to couple to a third harness module and forward data to a sensor node in the third harness module.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/615,277 filed Jun. 6, 2017 (now U.S. Pat. No. ______) titled“Streamer Manufacturing,” which claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 62/357,155 filed Jun. 30, 2016 and titled “StreamerManufacturing” and No. 62/354,175 filed Jun. 24, 2016 and titled“Streamer Sections with Embedded Modules”. All noted applications areincorporated by reference herein as if reproduced in full below.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure is related generally to the field of marine surveying.Marine surveying can include, for example, seismic and/orelectromagnetic surveying, among others. For example, this disclosuremay have applications in marine surveying, in which one or more sourceelements are used to generate wave-fields, and sensors—either towed orocean bottom or otherwise—receive energy generated by the sourceelements and affected by the interaction with the subsurface formation.The sensors thereby collect survey data which can be useful in thediscovery and/or extraction of hydrocarbons from subsurface formations.

Some related art approaches to the manufacture of seismic streamers canbe work-intensive. A large part of the work can be related to theinsertion and splicing of the sensors and sensor network electronicsinto a section of the seismic streamer. This can include threading ofthe local wiring through the spacers and splicing in each sensor andelectronics unit into a local wire bundle at the correct position. Thework may be manual, and it may be tedious due to limited space in thestreamer. Consequently, methods and systems that ameliorate the manualsteps and and/or modularize the assembly of seismic streamers provide acompetitive advantage in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention,reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a sensor streamer section in accordancewith an embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows cutaway view of a streamer section in accordance with anembodiment;

FIG. 3 shows a portion of a sensor streamer section in accordance withan embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows a cutaway view of a sensor streamer section in accordancewith an embodiment;

FIG. 5 shows a harness module interconnection in accordance with anembodiment;

FIG. 6 shows a connector in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 7 shows a sensor node interconnection in accordance with anembodiment;

FIG. 8 shows a backbone node connection in accordance with at least someembodiments;

FIG. 9 shows a harness module in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 10 shows a sensor node cable configuration in accordance with anembodiment;

FIG. 11 shows sensor splices in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 12 shows a cable sleeve in accordance with an with an embodiment;

FIG. 13 shows an exploded view of a spacer in accordance with anembodiment;

FIG. 14 shows a spacer in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 15 shows further features of a spacer in accordance with anembodiment;

FIG. 16 shows a spacer in accordance with another embodiment;

FIG. 17 shows a sensor streamer section portion in accordance with anembodiment;

FIG. 18 shows a spacer in accordance with another embodiment

FIG. 19 shows a spacer in accordance with another embodiment;

FIG. 20 shows a spacer in accordance with another embodiment;

FIG. 21 shows a sensor streamer section portion in accordance with anembodiment;

FIG. 22 shows a block diagram of a sensor streamer section datacommunication system in accordance with an embodiment; and

FIG. 23 shows a flow chart of a method in accordance with an embodiment.

NOTATION AND NOMENCLATURE

Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claimsto refer to particular system components. As one skilled in the art willappreciate, computer companies may refer to a component by differentnames. This document does not intend to distinguish between componentsthat differ in name but not function. In the following discussion and inthe claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are used in anopen-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including,but not limited to. . . . ” Also, the term “couple” or “couples” isintended to mean either an indirect, direct, optical or wirelesselectrical connection. Thus, if a first device couples to a seconddevice, that connection may be through a direct electrical connection,through an indirect electrical connection via other devices andconnections, through an optical electrical connection, or through awireless electrical connection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following discussion is directed to various embodiments of theinvention. Although one or more of these embodiments may be preferred,the embodiments disclosed should not be interpreted, or otherwise used,as limiting the scope of the disclosure, including the claims. Inaddition, one skilled in the art will understand that the followingdescription has broad application, and the discussion of any embodimentis meant only to be exemplary of that embodiment, and not intended tointimate that the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, islimited to that embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a sensor streamer section 100 inaccordance with an embodiment. Sensor streamer includes a plurality ofharness modules 102 which, as described further below, each include aplurality of geophysical sensors 104 and a sensor node 106interconnected via cables disposed within a cable harness 108 (e.g.cables 702-1, 702-2, FIG. 7, not visible in FIG. 1). Harness modules 102may be prefabricated as described further below in conjunction with FIG.23. The prefabricated harness modules 102 may then be coupled togetherand incorporated in sensor streamer section 100. In at least someembodiments a harness module 102 may be about 6.25 meters long.Geophysical sensors 104 may include, by way of example, hydrophones,geophones and accelerometers or other particle motion sensors. Theprinciples of the disclosure may be employed with any type of sensortypically employed in a seismic geophysical survey. Cable harness 108will also be described further below. Although the exemplary sensorstreamer section 100 is shown, for ease of illustration with two harnessmodules 102, a sensor streamer may include other numbers of harnessmodules 102. For example, in at least some embodiments, a sensorstreamer 10 may include sixteen harness modules 102. Harness modules 102may be connected together as described further below. Cable harness 108may also include a plurality of cables (e.g. cables 704, FIG. 7, notvisible in FIG. 1) to convey data obtained from the geophysical sensors104, via sensor node 106 to other sensor nodes, in daisy-chain fashionas described below, or to a backbone node 112, also described below.When employed in a geophysical survey, backbone node 112 may providetelemetry circuits such as packet switches, as described further below,to communicate the data from the geophysical sensors 104 to dataprocessing equipment onboard a survey vessel (not shown). Sensorstreamer section 100 may also include a backbone 114 supplyingelectrical and optical power to the sensors 102. Backbone 114 may extendthe length of sensor streamer section 100 which, in at least someexample embodiments, may be about 100 meters. Strength members 116 maybe included in a sensor streamer section 100 to carry the load when ageophysical survey streamer comprising sensor streamer sections 100 istowed in a water body during a geophysical survey. A plurality ofspacers 118 may be disposed along the length of sensor streamer section100 to support the cable harness 108 and strength members 116 and, in atleast some embodiments, protect the geophysical sensors 104, as will bedescribed further below. In at least some embodiments, spacers 118 maycomprise an engineered thermoplastic such as an ISOPLAST® engineeredpolymer from Lubrizol Corporation, Wickliffe, Ohio, USA. A streamer skin120 may be disposed as an envelope about the harness modules 102,spacers 118, strength members 116, backbone 114 and backbone node 112.End connectors 122 may be provided to interface the backbone node 112 toconnections to data processing equipment on board the survey vessel orto additional sensor streamer sections 100 coupled together in ageophysical survey streamer, as described further below.

FIG. 2 shows a cutaway view of a sensor streamer section 100 inaccordance with an embodiment. In FIG. 2, two coupled harness modules102A, 102B are shown (a connection therebetween is not visible in FIG.2). In other embodiments, any number of harness modules 102 may becoupled together within a sensor streamer section 100. In conjunctionwith harness module 102A, spacers have been omitted to show thegeophysical sensors 104 and sensor node 106 included in harness module102A. Spacers 118 are shown in conjunction with harness module 102Bwhich obscures the view of geophysical sensors 104 attached to harnessmodule 102B. One spacer, 118A, is shown in exploded view to show therelationship of a geophysical sensor 104 disposed within an interior ofspacer 118A. Backbone 114 is disposed within a trench (not visible inFIG. 2) formed in a wall of spacers 118. As will be described furtherbelow, harness modules 102 and strength members 116 may be similarlydisposed, although not visible in FIG. 2.

The structure of a sensor streamer section in accordance with theprinciples of the disclosure may be further appreciated by referring toFIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows a portion 300 of a sensor streamer section inaccordance with an embodiment. Similar to FIG. 2, a portion of harnessmodule 102A is shown without spacers in place where geophysical sensors104 are visible, and a harness module 102B is shown in conjunction withspacers in place wherein geophysical sensors 104 may be disposed in aninterior volume of spacers 118. A connection between harness modules102A and 102B not visible in FIG. 3 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Further,a sensor node 106 may similarly be disposed within an interior volume ofa spacer 118B. Strength member 116 may be disposed within another trench(not visible in FIG. 3) formed in a wall of spacers 118. The structureof spacers 118 in accordance with various embodiments will be furtherdescribed in conjunction with FIGS. 15-21 below.

Turning to FIG. 4, FIG. 4 shows cutaway view of a sensor streamersection 100. In FIG. 4, a backbone 114, strength member 116, and spacers118 have been omitted so the layout of harness modules 102 may be betterappreciated. Each harness module 102 may have twelve geophysical sensors104 coupled in two groups as described further below, to a correspondingsensor node 106. The exemplary embodiment of sensor streamer section 100includes two harness modules 102A, 102B similar to FIG. 2. The harnessmodules 102A, 1026 may be coupled together at a connection 402.Referring to FIG. 5, showing a harness module interconnection 500 inaccordance with an embodiment, connection 402 may include interconnectsfor cables 502A in harness module 102A and 502B in harness module 102B.Cables 502A, 502B may include electrical cables, optical cables or acombination thereof. Cables 502A may be connected to a sensor node 106Ain harness module 102A and carry data from sensor node 106A. Asdescribed further below in conjunction with FIG. 22, in operation, thedata from a sensor node 106 may include data originating with thegeophysical sensors 104, such as geophysical sensor 104A coupled to thecorresponding sensor node 106, as well as data originating from sensorsin other harness modules coupled together in a sensor streamer sectionand then in a geophysical survey streamer comprising a plurality ofsensor streamer sections coupled together via end connectors 122 (FIG.4). For example, considering the two harness modules 102A, 102B (FIG.4), the data from sensor node 106B may include data received from sensornode 106A via cables 502A, connection 402 and cables 502B. This data maybe multiplexed with data originating with geophysical sensors 104coupled to sensor node 106B, such as geophysical sensor 104B, as may beseen in FIG. 7, below. FIG. 6 shows connection 402 in further detail.Connection 402 includes a connector 602, which in the example is afemale connector, and a connector 604 which is a complementary maleconnector in this example. Although connectors 602 and 604 in theexemplary embodiment employ a bayonet type fixture, alternativeembodiments may employ a screw type fixture to join the two connectors.Thus, returning to FIG. 4, a harness module 102 may have a connector 602(FIG. 6) disposed on a first end and a connector 604 disposed on asecond end (neither separately visible in FIG. 4) to interconnectharness modules 102.

Turning to FIG. 7, FIG. 7 shows a sensor node interconnection 700 inaccordance with at least some embodiments. In FIG. 7 a pair of sensors,104B-1,104B-2 are shown communicatively coupled to a correspondingsensor node 106B. As discussed above, in at least some embodiments, aharness module, e.g. harness module 102B may include twelve geophysicalsensors 104 coupled, in two groups, as described further below inconjunction with FIG. 9, to a sensor node 106, e.g. sensor node 106B.Although in the example embodiments, two groups of six sensors aredescribed, other numbers of groups of sensors may be employed. Furtherthe number of sensors in the groups may vary and need not be equal. Inat least some embodiments, one or more groups may comprise a singlesensor. And, in at least some embodiments, the signals received at asensor node, e.g. sensor node 106B may comprise a sum of the signalsfrom the sensors in the group. Thus, a geophysical sensor 104B-1 may bea sensor of one of the two groups and geophysical sensor 104B-1 may be asensor of the other group. Each sensor of the first group e.g. 104B-1,may be coupled to a sensor node 106, e.g. sensor node 106B via one ofcables 702-1 in harness module 102B. Similarly, sensors of the secondgroup may be coupled to a sensor node 106, such as sensor node 106B, viaone of cables 702-2. Sensor node 106 may also receive data from a sensornode in a harness module distal to a survey vessel via cables 706.Further, the data output from a sensor node in a harness module proximalto a survey vessel may be coupled to a backbone node for transmission toa subsequent sensor streamer section, or ultimately to a data processingsystem on the survey vessel.

Referring to FIG. 8, FIG. 8 shows a backbone node connection 800 to abackbone node 112 in a streamer section 100 in accordance with at eastsome embodiments. Taking, by way of example, harness module 102B andsensor node 106B as the harness module sensor node proximal to thesurvey vessel, then data from the sensor node 106B (FIG. 7) may becommunicatively coupled via cables 704 to a backbone node 112. Backbonenode 112 may also be coupled to a backbone 114. Backbone node 112 maythen multiplex that data with data received from a previous streamersection such as a sensor streamer section 100 (FIGS. 1, 2) tocommunicate the data to a next streamer section or to the survey vessel.

As previously described, sensors in a harness module 102 may be coupledto a sensor node 106 in two groups with each group disposed on oppositesides of the sensor node. This may be understood by referring to FIG. 9showing a harness module 102 in accordance with at least someembodiments. A first group 902-1 comprises, in the exemplary embodiment,six geophysical sensors 104-1. Each geophysical sensor 104-1 may bespliced (as shown below in conjunction with FIG. 11) onto acorresponding cable 702-1 coupled to sensor node 106. Similarly, asecond group 902-2 comprises, by way of example, six geophysical sensors104-2. Each geophysical sensor 104-2 may be spliced onto a cable 702-2coupled to sensor node 106. Thus, referring to FIG. 10, showing a sensornode cable configuration 1000, in the exemplary embodiment, six cablesfrom each group are connected to a sensor node 106. Thus, cables 702-1comprise cables coupling geophysical sensors 104-1 in group 902-1 (FIG.9) to sensor node 106. Similarly, cables 702-2 comprise cables couplinggeophysical sensors 104-2 in group 902-2 (FIG. 9) to sensor node 106. Asdescribed above, in this example embodiment, two groups of six sensorseach are employed. However, other numbers of groups comprising variousnumbers of sensors each may be employed in accordance with theprinciples of the disclosure. Further, as also described above, a sensornode 106 may receive data from other sensor nodes in harness modulesdistal to the survey vessel and coupled together as previously describedto make up a sensor streamer section. Thus cables 706 may couple sensornode 106 to another sensor node distal to the survey vessel and cables708 may couple sensor node 106 to another sensor node proximal to thesurvey vessel. In this aspect, connectors 602 and 604 (FIG. 9) are showndisposed on first and second ends of harness module 102, as describedabove.

FIG. 11 shows sensor splices 1100 in accordance with at least someembodiments. Geophysical sensors 104 may be spliced onto a cable coupledto a sensor node 106 (not shown in FIG. 11), as previously described.Splices 1100 connect sensor leads 1102 to cables 702 coupled to a sensornode 106 (not shown in FIG. 11). Sensor leads 1102 may include powerinput and sensor signal output cables, and may be electrical or opticalas appropriate to the particular sensor embodiment. Thus, eachgeophysical sensor 104 may be coupled to a sensor node 106 andcommunicate data to the sensor node. As described further below inconjunction with FIG. 22, data from a geophysical sensor 104 may beeither in digital form or analog form. For example, data from amicro-electromechanical system (MEMS) sensor or a geophone may be indigital form, and data from a hydrophone or accelerometer may be inanalog form. Splices 1000 may be fabricated by soldering or crimping,for example, in the case of electrical cables, and by fusion splicing,for example, for optical cables. Splices 1000 may be sealed with, e.g.heat-shrink tubing. Further, in at least some embodiments, heat-shrinktubing with a heat activated adhesive may be used. In still otherembodiments, cables may be sealed by over molding. Referring to FIG. 12,a cable sleeve 1200 may be pulled over the cables 702 (not visible inFIG. 12) in fabricating a cable harness 108. In other words, a cablesleeve 1200 may be disposed about the cables 702 included in a cableharness 108. A cable sleeve 1200 bundles the cables in the cableharness, and provides protection. A self-wrap cable sleeve may be usedin conjunction with cable sleeve 1200 in at least some embodiments. Inother embodiments, a twist-in sleeve may be used. In still otherembodiments, a woven sleeve with tape and/or castings may be used.

In FIGS. 13-16 various spacer embodiments and a sensor streamer sectionconfiguration in conjunction therewith are shown. The exemplary spacerembodiments in FIGS. 13-16 may be used to provide one or more of thespacers 118 as described above. Turning to FIG. 13, FIG. 13 shows aspacer 1300 in accordance with at least some embodiments. Spacer 1300may comprise two parts, portion 1302 and portion 1304, which may allowfor easy assembly of a sensor streamer section 100 (FIGS. 1, 2). Bodies1306 and 1308 of portions 1302 and 1304, respectively, may define aninterior volume portion 1310 which, when the bodies are assembled,provides an interior volume of a spacer 1300 into which a geophysicalsensor 104 may be disposed, as previously described. In other words,when portions 1302 and 1304 are separated, the interior volume comprisedof interior volume portions 1310, are exposed, for ease of dispositionof a sensor node 106 therein. Further trenches 1312 and 1314 may beformed within walls 1306 and 1308 of portions 1302 and 1304 forreceiving a cable harness 108 (not shown in FIG. 13) and a strengthmember 116 (not shown in FIG. 13), respectively, as described furtherbelow. Trenches 1312 and 1314 may provide a passageway for the cableharness and/or strength member along a length of a harness module 102(FIGS. 1, 2), for example, in which spacers 118 in FIGS. 1 and 2comprise a spacer 1300. In at least some embodiments, bodies 1306 and1308 may comprise an engineered thermoplastic such as an ISOPLAST®engineered polymer from Lubrizol Corporation, Wickliffe, Ohio, USA.

FIG. 14 shows a spacer 1400 in accordance with at least someembodiments. Spacer 1400 is shown having a unitary construction.However, in an alternative embodiment, it may be constructed in twoparts, similar to spacer 1300 (FIG. 13). Spacer 1400 may have trenches1412 and 1414 formed in a wall 1406 of spacer 1400. A strength member(not shown in FIG. 14) may be disposed in a trench 1412. A cable harness108 may be disposed within a trench 1414 (not visible in FIG. 14).Further a backbone 114 may be disposed within a trench 1414. Similar tospacer 1300, trenches 1412 and 1414 may provide a passageway for thecable harness and/or strength member along a length of a harness module102 in FIGS. 1, 2, for example, in which spacers 118 comprise a spacer1400. The disposition of cable harnesses and backbone within trenches inthe wall of a spacer in accordance with the disclosed principles, asshown in FIG. 14, may facilitate the assembly of a sensor streamersection in that the cable harnesses and backbone need not be manuallythreaded through holes in a spacer. An interior surface 1408 of wall1406 may define an interior volume 1410 into which a geophysical sensor104 may be placed, similar to the interior volume 1310 of spacer 1300(FIG. 13).

FIG. 15 shows a spacer 1500 including further features that may beincorporated therewith. Spacer 1500 includes trenches 1412 and 1414similar to spacer 1400 (FIG. 1400). A trench 1414 may be provided with agroove 1502 for receiving a cover 1504. Cover 1504 may protect a cableharness 108 or backbone 114 (not shown in FIG. 15, for clarity) disposedwithin, as described in conjunction with FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 shows a spacer 1600 in accordance with at least some alternativeembodiments. Spacer 1600 includes a trench 1602 formed within a wall1608 of spacer 1600 for receiving a strength member 116 (not shown inFIG. 16) as previously described. Trench 1602 includes a spike 1604which may help retain a strength member (not shown in FIG. 16) disposedwithin trench 1602, and, in operation, may help transfer towing forcesto the spacer. Further, trench 1606 within wall 1608 for receiving acable harness 108 or backbone 114 (neither shown in FIG. 16 for clarity)may be angled along a length of spacer 1600. Angling the trench 1606 mayhelp protect the cable harness 108 or backbone 114 disposed within.

FIG. 17 shows a portion 1700 of a sensor streamer section, illustratingthe various spacers 1400-1600 disposed within. In FIG. 17, spacer 1400is shown in an exploded view. Further, portion 1700 includes a spacer1702 having holes 1704 disposed through wall 1706 for passing a strengthmember 116 (not shown in FIG. 17) and holes (not visible in FIG. 17) forpassing a cable harness 108 or backbone 114.

FIGS. 18-21 show further spacer embodiments and a sensor streamerconfiguration in conjunction therewith. The exemplary spacer embodimentsin FIGS. 18-20 may be used to provide one or more of the spacers 118 asdescribed above. Turning to FIG. 18, a spacer 1800 is shown. Spacer 1800includes a trench 1802 formed in a wall 1804 of spacer 1800 forreceiving a strength member 116 (not shown in FIG. 18). Trench 1802 maybe angled along a length of spacer 1800 to increase the friction betweenthe strength member and spacer 1800. Similar to the spike 1604 (FIG.16), this may also help to transfer towing forces to the spacer when inoperation. In the example trench 1802, the angle is provided by a “Vee”shape of trench 1802. However, other shapes may be used,—for example, ahorizontally oriented “S-shape” having continuously varying angle alongthe length of the spacer 1800.

FIG. 19 shows a spacer 1900 in accordance with at least some alternativeembodiments. Spacer 1900 may include a trench 1902 having an indentation1904 configured to receive and engage with a stop 1906 affixed on astrength member 116. Stop 1906 may be configured to snap intoindentation 1904. Alternatively, stop 1906 may be cemented intoindentation 1904 with a suitable adhesive material or, may be retainedin indentation 1904 using a screw (not shown in FIG. 19).

FIG. 20 shows an exploded view of a spacer 2000 in accordance with atleast some other alternative embodiments. Spacer 2000 includes a body2002 having wall 2006 and an interior wall surface 2004 defining aninterior volume 2008. When incorporated into a sensor streamer section,a geophysical sensor 104 (not shown in FIG. 20) may be disposed withininterior volume 2008, as previously described. Trenches 2010 forreceiving strength members 116, cable harnesses 108 and a backbone 114,as described above, may be formed within the wall 2006. Trenches 2010may have an oval shape wherein a thickness of wall 2006 may be greaterthan might otherwise obtain with trenches having a circular shape. Acover 2012 may be disposed over body 2002 to help retain the strengthmembers, cable harnesses and backbones (none shown in FIG. 20) withintrenches 2010, as shown in FIG. 21.

FIG. 21 shows a sensor streamer section portion 2100 illustrating thevarious spacers 1800-2100 disposed within. Spacer 2100 is shown withcover 2012 in position over body 2002. Similarly stop 1906 is shownpositioned within indentation 1904 (not visible in FIG. 21). A cableharness 108 may be disposed in a trench, e.g. a trench 1314 (FIG. 13).Strength member 116 may also be disposed within a trench 1802 formed inthe wall of spacer 1800, as described above in conjunction with FIG. 18.

To further appreciate the foregoing principles of the disclosure, FIG.22 provides a block diagram of a sensor streamer section communicationsystem 2200 (hereinafter simply communication system 2200) in accordancewith at least some embodiments. Communication system 2200 may be used ina sensor streamer section comprising a plurality of harness modules 102as described above in conjunction with, inter alia, FIGS. 1 and 2. InFIG. 22, three sensor nodes, 106-1, 106-2 and 106-3, are shown, howevervarious numbers of sensor nodes 106 may be included in a sensor streamersection in conjunction with each harness module 102 (FIGS. 1, 2). In anexemplary embodiment, a communication system 2200 may include sixteensensor nodes 106 in conjunction with sixteen harness modules 102.Further, as will be described below, sensor node 106-3 may be a sensornode coupled to a backbone node 112. Between sensor nodes 106-2 and106-3, various numbers of intermediate sensor nodes 106 (not shown inFIG. 22) may be coupled in daisy chain fashion. For example, a sensornode 106-2 may be coupled to a first connector, e.g. a connector 604(FIGS. 6 and 9), at a first end of a harness module 102 (FIGS. 1, 2).And, sensor node 106-2 may also be coupled to a second connector, e.g. aconnector 602 (FIGS. 6 and 9), at a second end of the harness module 102(FIGS. 1, 2). Thus, the example sensor node 106-2 is configured tocouple to sensor nodes 106-1 and 106-3 in their respective harnessmodules 102 (FIGS. 1, 2).

Sensor nodes 106 may be configured to receive data from sensors 104 (notshown in FIG. 22) as previously described. Analog data 2202 may bereceived, for example, from geophysical sensors 104 (not shown in FIG.22) comprising hydrophones and accelerometers. Digital data 2204 may bereceived from geophysical sensors 104 comprising, for example, MEMSsensors and geophones.

Analog data may be digitized by an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter orADC 2206 for subsequent transmission to data processing equipment onboard a survey vessel (not shown in FIG. 22). Digitized analog data fromADC 2206 and digital data 2204 may be packetized and stored inbuffer/retransmit 2208 for transmission, under the control of packetswitch 2210, to a subsequent sensor node 106 where it may be aggregatedwith data from sensors coupled to the subsequent sensor node. Thus, byway of example, sensor node 106-2 may be a subsequent sensor node withrespect to sensor node 106-1 wherein the data transmitted from sensornode 106-1 is communicated via data link 2212 to sensor node 106-2.

As noted above, a sensor streamer section 100 (FIG. 1, 2) may comprise aplurality of harness modules 102 (FIG. 1, 2) wherein various numbers ofsensor nodes 106 (not shown in FIG. 22) may be coupled together in daisychain fashion between sensor nodes 106-2 and 106-3. At each such sensornode 106, data received on a data link 2212 may be aggregated with thedigitized analog data 2204 and digital data 2206 received at therespective sensor node 106. Sensor node 106-3, which as described above,may be a sensor node proximal to a survey vessel (not shown in FIG. 22)may be coupled to a backbone node 112.

Backbone node 112 may provide telemetry services to the sensor streamersection. The aggregated data from sensor node 106-3 may be coupled, viadata link 2216, to a packet switch 2218 within backbone node 112. Packetswitch 2218 may also receive aggregated data via data link 2220 from aprevious sensor streamer section (not shown in FIG. 22). Packet switch2218 may then forward the data to a subsequent sensor streamer section(not shown in FIG. 22) on data link 2222. Alternatively, if the sensorstreamer section 100 (FIGS. 1, 2) is the streamer section proximal tothe survey vessel, data link 2222 may couple to a data processing systemon board the vessel. Data links 2212, 2216, 2220 and 2222 may beelectrical, optical or combinations thereof. Further, data links 2212and 2216 may comprise one or more of cables 706 and 704 (FIGS. 7, 10),respectively. Data link 2220 may be included in a backbone 114 (FIGS. 1,2) which may also include cables to provide redundancy, for example aredundant optical fiber 2230 and a wire pair 2232 for redundant steeringcontrol.

A backbone node 112 may also include a controller 2224 and an auxiliaryinterface 2226. Auxiliary interface 2226 may, for example, receiveacoustic positioning data 2228 from acoustic positioning devices (notshown in FIG. 22) associated with a sensor streamer section employing acommunication system 2200. Controller 2224 may provide controlinformation to packet switch 2218. Controller 2224 may also providecontrol information to, for example, steering devices (not shown)coupled between sensor streamer sections comprising a seismic streamer.The control information may be based, at least in part, on acousticpositioning data 2228. In this respect, one or more of data links 2212,2216, 2220 and 2222 may be bi-directional links wherein controlinformation may be transmitted to sensor streamer sections comprising aseismic streamer and positioned distal to the survey vessel. Althoughbackbone node 112 is shown as an integrated unit, in alternativeembodiments, backbone node 112 may comprise discrete units within asensor streamer section 100 (FIGS. 1, 2).

In at least some embodiments of sensor nodes 106, a compass/tilt sensor2214 may be provided. Compass/tilt sensor 2214may be used to providedata with respect to the orientation of the sensor streamer sectionincorporating the communication system 2200. For example, a compass/tiltsensor 2214 may be used with sensor streamer sections employinggeophysical sensors 104 (not shown in FIG. 22) comprising piezoelectricaccelerometer-based motion sensors. In contrast, a compass/tilt sensor2214 may not be needed with sensor streamer sections employinggeophysical sensors 104 (not shown in FIG. 22) comprising MEMS-basedmotion sensors, as a DC value from the MEMS-based motion sensor providesa measurement of the gravitational field at the position of the sensorstreamer section, which can be used to determine the orientation of thesensor streamer section.

FIG. 23 shows a flow chart of a method 2300 in accordance with at leastsome embodiments. Method 2300 starts at block 2302. In block 2304, asensor streamer section is fabricated by coupling together a pluralityof prefabricated harness modules, block 2306, wherein each prefabricatedharness module comprises a plurality of geophysical sensors coupled to asensor node. The sensor node is configured to receive data from each ofthe plurality of geophysical sensors and to forward the data to anothersensor node in another one of the prefabricated harness modules. Inblock 2308, the coupled prefabricated harness modules are enveloped in askin. The skin may be filled with a gel. In at least some embodiments,fabricating a sensor streamer section may further comprise disposingeach geophysical sensor in each harness module in an interior volume ofa spacer, and disposing the cable harness in a trench formed in a wallof each spacer. Further, fabricating a sensor streamer section mayinclude disposing a strength member in another trench formed in the wallof each spacer.

Fabricating a sensor streamer section may further include coupling oneof the prefabricated harness modules to a backbone node configured toforward data received from one of the prefabricated harness modules toanother sensor streamer section or to a survey vessel.

The harness modules may be prefabricated by, for each geophysical sensorin each prefabricated harness module, splicing a lead from thegeophysical sensor to a cable disposed within a cable harness comprisinga plurality of cables, the cable coupled to a corresponding one of thesensor nodes. Splicing may include soldering, crimping in the case ofelectrical cables, or fusion splicing in the case of optical cables. Inat least some embodiments, prefabricating each harness module mayfurther comprise attaching a first connector on a first end of theprefabricated harness module and a second connector on a second end ofthe prefabricated harness module, the first and second connectorsconfigured to couple together the harness modules, and wherein whencoupled together, data from a sensor node in a first harness module isconfigured to communicate data to a sensor node in a second harnessmodule coupled to the first harness module. Further, the prefabricatingmay include disposing a cable sleeve about the cables in the cableharness.

The above discussion is meant to be illustrative of the principles andvarious embodiments of the present invention. Numerous variations andmodifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art once theabove disclosure is fully appreciated. For example, various numbers ofsensor streamer sections may be coupled in a geophysical surveystreamer, and each streamer section may include various numbers ofcoupled prefabricated harness modules. It is intended that the followingclaims be interpreted to embrace all such variations and modifications.

What is claimed is:
 1. A harness module comprising: a plurality ofgeophysical sensors disposed along a length of the harness module; asensor node communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors, thesensor node configured to receive data from each of the plurality ofsensors and send the data to another sensor node or a backbone nodecommunicatively coupled to the harness module; a first connectordisposed at a first end of the harness module; and a second connectordisposed at a second end of the harness module, wherein; the firstconnector is coupled to the sensor node and is configured to couple to asecond harness module and receive data from a sensor node in the secondharness module; and the second connector is coupled to the sensor nodeand is configured to couple to a third harness module and forward datato a sensor node in the third harness module.
 2. The harness module ofclaim 1 wherein each geophysical sensor of the plurality of sensors isselected from the group consisting of: a hydrophone; a geophone; aparticle motion sensor comprising a piezoelectric accelerometer; and aMEMS-based particle motion sensor.
 3. The harness module of claim 1wherein a first plurality of the geophysical sensors comprises a firstgroup of sensors coupled to the sensor node and a second plurality ofsensors comprises a second group of sensors coupled to the sensor node.4. The harness module of claim 1 further comprising: a cable harnesscomprising a plurality of cables, each cable of the plurality of cablescoupled to one of the sensor nodes; and each geophysical sensor isspliced to a cable of the cable harness.
 5. The harness module of claim4 wherein the cable harness further comprises a cable sleeve disposedabout the plurality of cables.
 6. The harness module of claim 1 whereinthe sensor node comprises an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupledto an analog output data of one or more of the geophysical sensors ofthe plurality of sensors.
 7. The harness module of claim 6 wherein thesensor node further comprises a tilt sensor configured to determine anorientation of the harness module.